Helix 5 on Ice

  • BrianF
    Posts: 793
    July 27, 2018 at 10:08 am #1787945

    I just ordered a Helix 5 GPS G2 for use on a snowmobile and float tube.

    My question is: If I want to use the Helix as an ice unit, then do I NEED to order the ice transducer? In other words, I’m wondering if the ice transducer does things the skimmer transducer can’t (assuming I mount the skimmer so it remains oriented correctly while down the hole).

    Anyone have any knowledge on whether the skimmer can do just as good of a job as an ice transducer on this Helix?

    FishBlood&RiverMud
    Prescott
    Posts: 6687
    July 27, 2018 at 10:24 am #1787948
    BrianF wrote:

    t (assuming I mount the skimmer so it remains oriented correctly while down the hole).

    A little garage engineering so it hangs right and they’re considered equal transducers.

    Jamin
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 925
    July 27, 2018 at 2:50 pm #1788022

    Brian,
    Do a search here on the forum around 2016 or 2017 on the Helix units and there’s a photo of a guy that just made a loop in his skimmer cord and zip tied it so the ducer sat level/properly. Might be an easy solution if you don’t want to invest in the ice ducer.

    If you do decide to get the ice ducer, Hodges Marine is still the best price I’ve found.
    https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Humminbird-Xi-9-1521-Ice-Transducer-p/hum710273-1.htm

    404 ERROR
    MN
    Posts: 3918
    July 27, 2018 at 4:05 pm #1788034

    You can easily make it work with above recommendations. It does nothing the standard ducer doesn’t other than hang straight. You’ll get water temp at the hole, and we all know how important that is.

    BrianF
    Posts: 793
    July 27, 2018 at 11:58 pm #1788072

    Jamin, is this the photo to which you were referring?? Not found on IDO forum so wasn’t sure. Maybe there is a better way to get these to hang perfectly level?

    Attachments:

    1. C040EA03-9F7C-4778-BBA3-78A42E170F83.png

    Jamin
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 925
    July 28, 2018 at 12:48 pm #1788112

    Brian,
    Same concept but I recall the other one looking cleaner and black zip ties. It was in a thread when people first started talking using a Helix on ice. Around the time of the G1 launch.

    I’ll see if I can find it.

    Mat Peirce
    Inactive
    SE Iowa
    Posts: 197
    August 8, 2018 at 4:48 pm #1790396

    works great….I’ve been using that transducer since 2011

    BrianF
    Posts: 793
    August 8, 2018 at 4:54 pm #1790402

    Perfect. Thx! One question though…have any problems with line getting wrapped up in the ducer? Or are you drilling a separate hole?

    Jamin
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 925
    August 8, 2018 at 8:33 pm #1790437

    That was the photo I couldn’t find again!! Glad Mat found this thread.

    For bigger fish I will pull the ducer but most panfish I don’t have a problem with an 8” hole.

    nhamm
    Inactive
    Robbinsdale
    Posts: 7348
    August 8, 2018 at 10:08 pm #1790462

    Old 597 DI I put transducer on old wood rake, would sit over hole and I had the DI which was a bonus.

    Secure the cord few times here and there and worked pretty slick to grab and pull out. Could screw in wherever since it was solid wood.

    Ended up getting bag and ice ducer for it but rednecked for one season.

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